Life-preserver.



Patented October 13, 1903.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE "MITCHELL, vOF LUNENBURG, CANADA.

.LlFE-PREsERvER.

l SPECIFICATION Vf formingv part of Letters Patent No. 741,526, datedOctober 13, 1903. Application led November Iii, 1902- Seial No. 131,906.(No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. MITCHELL, a citizen of theV Dominion ot'Canada, and a resident of Lunenburg, in the county of Lunenburg,Province of Nova Scotia, Oanada have made a certain new andusefulInvention in Life- Preservers; and I declare the following'to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use theinvention, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and toletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The invention relates to life preserving belts; and it consists in thenovel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of thedevice, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the two coupled ends ofthe same on a larger scale.

In the drawings the letter a designates the outer rubber or waterprooflcasing of the belt, which is of tubular character andis provided with adistending-sprin-g band a guard-cord c. The ends of the belt arerespectivelyprovided with the coperating parts ofa valveclasp orvalvular fastening, said parts cnsisting of a thimble portion d and atongue portion e. The thimble d, made of metal or ebonite or othersuitable substance, isv mainly of cylindrical form, its outer end orlmouth f being open and its inner end closed,- as at g, except that thediaphragmis provided with a valve-seat opening h. The' thimblenis seatedinone end ofthe tubularzbelt, which is wired thereon in a securelyWaterproof manner, as indicated at la; The inner end of the thimble isprovided with lugs or connections for securing the ends of the,disteuding-spring b and the guard-cord c. In the mouth end of l'thethimble is located the spring-catch Z, to

which is connected the valve m, usually of ball form. In Ythe other endof the' tubular belt is seated the bodyp of the tongue portion, saidbody being of cylindrical form and' being securely wired in the end ofthe belt, as indicated. Theinner end of this thimblebody is providedwith holes, as at q, for the at- Vexcessive strain in use.

tachment of the end of the distending-spring and the end of theguard-cord, which is made slightly shorter than the belt in order toprevent injury to the latter in consequence of The tongue-catch t isusually of conical form and is provided with a catch shoulder or lianges, which when the tongue is introduced into the mouth of the thimblebecomes engaged with the catch` end fu of the spring-catch, and therebythe ends of the belt are securely connected. Usually the conical tongueis provided with a threaded recess designedto engage the threaded neck wof the tongue portion. The

wall of the mouth portion of the thimble is usually notched at e' toenable the wearerto more readily press the spring-catch open indisengaging the tongue when it is desiredto unfasten the belt.

When not Ain use, this belt can be contracted in small compass, so as tobe easily cary therewith by the tension ot' the belt. In this` manner itis designed to prevent the entrance of water or the escape of theairfrom the belt.

Having described this invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent,

is- Y 1. In la life-preserving belt, the tubular belt, having adistending-spring, the valved diaphragm in one end of said belt, and thetwo catch members at the ends' of the belt, one of which controls thevalve of said diaphragm, substantially as specified.

2. In a life-preserving belt, the tubular belt, having adistending-spring, the valved diaphragm in one end of said belt, thespringcatch controllin g the valve of said diaphragm, and the tongue atthe'oth'er end of said belt, and having a catch-shoulder for engagementwith said spring-catch, substantially as specified.

3. In a life preserving belt, the tubular I-oo belt, having adistendingsprng and guard- In testimony whereof I affix my signatureoord, Jshe diaphragm in one end of said belt, in presence of twowitnesses. and having a valve seat the spring catch carrying aball-valve for said seat, and the GEORGE W MITCHELL' 5 tongue at theother end of said belt, and hav- Witnesses:

ing a catch-shoulder for engagement; with said ROBT. B. NIETS,

spring-catch, substantially as specified. l GEORGE L. GOLLEN.

